The Liverpool ECHO is on the lookout for the very best in the business world as they launch the Regional Business Awards for 2019.
Ther awards – now in their 25th year – honour the best in the business world across the City Region, from young entrepreneurs to the biggest companies.
They’re organised by the ECHO and sister magazine Business Post. The executive sponsor is Liverpool Business School at Liverpool John Moores University.
The winners will be honoured at a black-tie dinner at Liverpool’s stunning Anglican Cathedral in June, marking the event’s silver anniversary.
The awards are open for entries now – and entry is free.
Enter the Regional Business Awards HERE
Alastair Machray, editor of the Liverpool Echo and editor-in-chief for Reach plc Merseyside, Cheshire and Wales, said: “Last year we had a huge entry and outstanding winners and shortlisted companies. This year we hope for even more as we seek to celebrate business achievement and excellence across a range of sectors.
“These successes deserve to be applauded and rewarded publicly. So please enter now – and tell our judges why you and your business deserve attention and acclaim.”
He added: “It is highly appropriate that the Liverpool Business School takes centre stage in recognition of the groundbreaking work they do in ensuring the City Region’s growing reputation for business excellence in both practical and academic terms.
“The development and progression of the Liverpool Business School at JMU is yet another key indicator that the City Region’s business and economic health remains on a serious upcurve.
Carl Wood, Regional Managing Director for Reach PLC, said: “We’re delighted to have Liverpool Business School on board as sponsors – and are grateful too to all of our other award category sponsors for their support again this year.
“We’re proud to celebrate the Silver Anniversary of the Regional Business Awards as we once again celebrate the excellence of the City Region’s business community.
“We’re looking forward to some more brilliant nominations from those companies who are creating jobs and wealth across Liverpool and the wider region.
“The region has changed massively in those 25 years, and we’ll be celebrating those businesses who are still leading our transformation.”
ECHO Executive Business Editor Alistair Houghton, one of the judges last year, added: “We were hugely impressed last year by the range of entries we received and by the success stories those entries told.
“The Regional Business Awards offer a great opportunity for businesses to tell the world about their achievements. The deadline is only a few weeks away – so start your entry now.”
How to enter
Head to the website www.regionalbusinessawards.co.uk to complete your entry form.
The deadline for entries is Friday, February 15.
All entries will be reviewed by the panel of judges who will decide on the finalists for the awards. Several of the categories will also see site visits with members of the judging panel before the winners are decided.
For any enquiries please contact events@liverpool.com or call 0151 472 2571
RBA 2019: The Categories
New Business of the Year
This category is open to businesses that began trading after January 1, 2017. If you are a high-performing new company with something to shout about this is the award for you. The judges will be looking for evidence of a sustainable business that has met, or is on its way to meeting, initial targets that can demonstrate success in their industry with the potential to grow strongly in the future.
Business of the Year (Up to 50 Employees)
This award is for businesses established for more than two years which employ up to 50 people and can demonstrate all-round business excellence. The judges will be looking for a business that has delivered consistent growth and solid financial performance through great leadership, understanding its customers and engaging employees. Open to all sectors.
Business of the Year (51 – 250 Employees) – sponsored by MSIF
If you can demonstrate outstanding business performance in your industry and employ between 51 – 250 people, then this is the category for you. The judges will be looking for a business that has delivered consistent growth and solid financial performance through great leadership, understanding its customers and engaging employees. Open to all sectors.
Business of the Year (Over 250 Employees) – sponsored by Merseyrail
If your business employs more than 250 people and can show outstanding business performance, this is the category to enter. The judges will be looking for a business that has delivered consistent growth and solid financial performance through great leadership, understanding its customers and engaging employees. Open to all sectors.
Corporate Social Responsibility Award – sponsored by Community Foundation for Merseyside
The CSR award is for businesses dedicated to building better workforces, creating a sustainable economy and healthy communities. Tell us about how corporate social responsibility is woven into the fabric of your business, whether you are leading the way on diversity, education, community initiatives or addressing global issues and how your efforts have made a difference to your business and commercial success as a result.
Outstanding Charity Support – sponsored by BNY Mellon’s Pershing
We’re looking for companies who go above and beyond to help raise funds and support charities or community groups in our region. This could be by organising fundraising events or challenges with its employees, through company donations or matched giving, sponsorship and support of charity events, staff fundraising or volunteering programmes, payroll giving, or just generally raising awareness.
International Business of the Year
This award recognises a business that has achieved the highest and most sustainable levels of international growth through exporting. The judges are looking for businesses that have achieved export growth or an increase in revenues from overseas operations, as well as considering increases in market share through exporting, innovation in products, services or processes to enable exporting, international engagement and potential for future growth.
Knowledge Business of the Year
This category is open to any business, ranging from early-stage recent start-ups to long-established multi-nationals, that seek to commercialise knowledge – whether that be developing intellectual property or selling professional know-how. This includes firms active in the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors as well as those in software, IT, engineering, geology, robotics, advanced manufacturing and professional services. The judges will be looking for evidence that the knowledge either has been, or can be, converted into a viable and profitable business, and they will also assess its economic impact on the Liverpool City Region.
Creative Impact Award – sponsored by Liverpool Business School, Liverpool John Moores University
This category is open to businesses that derive their income from their creative services. This could include design, publishing, film, architecture, the arts and marketing. Entries are welcome from all firms, whether they are acting as agents or principals. The judges will be looking for evidence that creative work has led directly to improved business performance.
Young Business Person of the Year
For business people aged 35 or under (on March 31, 2019). This category is looking to recognise business leadership, entrepreneurship, creativity and vision for the future. Judges will be looking for a successful entrepreneur or to a senior manager who has made a significant impact on their business, who has set and achieved objectives within its business plans and established a position of sustainable profitability and success. Please state your date of birth on your entry form.
Business Person of the Year
We are looking for a business leader who stands out from the crowd – someone who has helped to grow the reputation, not only of their organisation but also the city region. He or she will have achieved this through inspirational leadership and an entrepreneurial spirit that creates a sense of direction and momentum for development within their business.
Message from the sponsor – Liverpool Business School
Timothy Nichol, Dean of Liverpool Business School, Liverpool John Moores University, said: “Liverpool Business School is a Faculty within LJMU and a provider of business education for over 30 years. As part of a modern civic university, we seek to make a significant impact to growth in the Liverpool city region and beyond.
“Our corporate development portfolio recognises the impact that trained managers have on transforming business performance, and works across sectors and organisations to develop leaders and managers.
“We believe the Government apprenticeship scheme is an opportunity to enable this transformation and have designed a range of flexible leadership and management programmes, mapped to the apprenticeship standards.
“The courses enable businesses to meet organisational training needs and staff to realise their potential, for those new to managing, right through to senior managers and leaders.
“We encourage businesses to use their apprenticeship levy to develop great leaders, who will help to lead change in their organisation.
“We support businesses in an increasingly digital world by providing courses and graduates with the digital skills and knowledge required by all sectors. Our academic research strives to help fill knowledge gaps in the area of digital technology through research activity undertaken by our Digital Sciences Centre and Advanced Digital Research Group.
“By understanding partner organisations, and engineering flexibility into the support we provide, we can help businesses grow. Through bespoke programmes and interventions built around individual businesses and employees, the Liverpool Business School will create the next generation of leaders, and assist in driving economic development right across the Liverpool City Region.”
Enter the Regional Business Awards HERE
